Montreal PWHL officially announced first season-opening roster’

On Tuesday, all six PWHL teams announced their season opening rosters so we finally know the 23 players who will start the season representing Montreal’s first PWHL team.

Thirteen of the team’s fifteen draft picks were included on the 23-man roster. Only defender Maude Poulin-Labelle, who was claimed by Toronto, and Swedish attacker Lina Ljungblom did not make the roster. The 22-year-old is in Sweden to finish out her contract. According to sources, her contract expires at the end of the season, but Montreal retains her rights for another year. Labelle was selected in the tenth round by the team.

The team’s three Foundational Signings and seven undrafted players will join the drafted players. The team did not file a waiver claim based on the final cuts of the opposing squad.

The squad decided to go with three goalkeepers: foundation signing Ann-Renée Desbiens, draft pick Elaine Chuli, and free-agent camp invite Marlène Boissonnault.

Erin Ambrose, a first-round pick, anchors the defence. Ambrose, one of the game’s top defenders, has signed a three-year contract to begin her second spell in Montreal. She is partnered by Czech Olympian Dominika Lásková and Isobel Cup champion Kati Tabin in a group that hopes to contribute offensively while also playing well defensively.

The forwards are led by Marie-Philip Poulin, who is the overwhelming favourite to be the team’s first captain if one is elected this season. She is joined by Laura Stacey, another key signing, and draft picks Kristin O’Neill (round two).and Maureen Murphy (round three), who both signed three-year contracts.

Ann-Sophie Bettez and Jillian Dempsey, two of the top forwards in North American professional women’s hockey history, round out the front group. For years, the two have been leaders in the room and on the stat sheet. Former PHF MVP Kennedy Marchment and Olympic bronze medalist Tereza Vaniová are also members of the forward group.

Despite the international break with the Rivalry Series between Canada and the United States and the Five Nations tournament in Sweden, where Czechia will compete, the team has been practicing all week.

2023-24 PWHL Montreal Roster

Goaltenders (3)

Ann-Renée Desbiens, 29, Foundational Signing [3-year contract]
Elaine Chuli, 29, Drafted 13th round (78th overall) [1-year contract]
Marlène Boissonnault, Undrafted [Terms not disclosed]

Defenders (7)

RD Erin Ambrose, 29, Drafted 1st round (6th overall) [3-year contract]
RD Dominika Lásková, 26, Drafted 4th round (19th overall) [2-year contract]
RD Catherine Daoust, 28, Undrafted [Terms not disclosed]
LD Kati Tabin, 26, Drafted 5th round (30th overall) [2-year contract]
LD Mariah Keopple, 23, Undrafted [1-year contract]
LD Madison Bizal, 23, Drafted 8th round (43rd overall) [Terms not disclosed]
LD Brigitte Laganière, 27, Undrafted [Terms not disclosed]

Forwards (13)

Marie-Philip Poulin, 32, Foundational Signing [3-year contract]
Laura Stacey, 29, Foundational Signing [3-year contract]
Kristin O’Neill, 25, Drafted 2nd round (7th overall) [3-year contract]
Maureen Murphy, 23, Drafted 3rd round (18th overall) [3-year contract]
Kennedy Marchment, 26, Drafted 6th round (31st overall) [2-year contract]
Tereza Vanišová, 27, Drafted 7th round (42nd overall) [2-year contract]
Gabrielle David, 24, Drafted 9th round (54th overall) [1-year contract]
Jillian Dempsey, 32, Drafted 11th round (66th overall) [1-year contract]
Claire Dalton, 23, Drafted 12th round (67th overall) [1-year contract]
Ann-Sophie Bettez, 36, Drafted 14th round (79th overall) [1-year contract]
Sarah Bujold, 27, Undrafted [1-year contract]
Leah Lum, 27, Undrafted* [Terms not disclosed]
Sarah Lefort, 29, Undrafted [Terms not disclosed]

*Due to the injuries to Ambrose and Tabin, Lum played defence throughout camp, and her versatility is a boon to the squad.